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breaking news

Miami Dolphins solidify clear plan for offensive line contingencies

The offensive line figures to be a work in progress all season. (Allen Eyestone/The Post)

OXNARD, Calif.—If everything went exactly the way the Dolphins wanted, which it never does, they’d count on steamrolling through the season with the same five offensive linemen. Even for as optimistic as offensive Clyde Christensen can be, he knows that’s unrealistic.

The team went through 10 starters last year, trying seven lineup combinations, and the coaches are bracing themselves for more upheaval.

“The goal is to see them all stay together and play together, and if they do that, they’ll mature together,” Christensen said before today’s practice. “That would be the dessert, right? History would say that you’re going to have some plans and have some curveballs again and have to adjust.”

With that in mind, here are the Dolphins’ plans (and backup plans) on the offensive line:

They’ll open against the Chargers with a starting lineup of left tackle Laremy Tunsil, left guard Anthony Steen, center Mike Pouncey, right guard Jermon Bushrod and right tackle Ju’Wuan James. Steen and Tunsil each missed time last season, and Pouncey lasted just five games because of ongoing hip trouble.

If there’s a problem with Pouncey, the team will move Steen to center and shift Jesse Davis into the left guard spot. Davis was nearly even with Steen all preseason in the competition for that job, and Steen started seven games at center last year.

Tackle-wise, Sam Young appears to be next in line at either spot. Davis would be next, and the team thinks of undrafted rookie Eric Smith (6-foot-4, 321 pounds) as “more of a developmental guy,” Christensen said.

The Dolphins also have Jake Brendel at center and rookie Isaac Asiata as a guard or center. Asiata might also fall into the developmental category.

Whether Brendel is active in a given week as the third center is actually significant for Christensen, who is uneasy playing with just two centers.

“I’ve done it a couple times where you have two dressed and all of sudden you’ve got a tight end in the locker room trying to snap at halftime just in case,” he said. “The tricky part comes with having the third guy dressed.”

Christensen’s example wasn’t merely a hypothetical. During his time with Tampa, there was at least one game in which they had Dave Moore, a tight end, full back and long snapper, warming up in case he was needed at center.